About Us
Born Over Breakfast on the Workshop Floor
Toasted Merch did not start in a distant corporate office, a boardroom, or a high street agency. It was born right here on the workshop floor in Norwich, Norfolk, surrounded by sawdust, timber, and the warm hum of valve amplifiers.
For years, our main focus has been Noisy Hammer, designing and handcrafting custom guitar and bass speaker cabinets, valve amps, and bespoke audio enclosures for musicians, touring bands, and independent music venues. Every single day, we work alongside artists and creators who care deeply about tone, aesthetics, and structural durability. We know how much passion goes into creating an authentic sound, building a unique identity, and standing out on a dark stage or behind a merch desk.
In our workshop, we rely on heavy duty laser engraving equipment to brand metal jack plates, cut custom wood badge tags, detail headshells, and personalise bespoke amp hardware. One morning over breakfast, while discussing how much we loved the scorched, textured detail created by the laser beam burning into raw hardwood, a lightbulb went off.
Toasted Merch was named right then and there. It was a play on the literal burning of the timber, a fun idea that felt completely right for what we wanted to build.
We already possessed the commercial laser setup, the master joinery experience, the material knowledge, and a constant stream of touring bands, venues, and independent brands passing through our doors asking where to get custom merchandise that did not feel cheap, flimsy, or forgettable.
The eureka moment was simple: take the exact same high precision laser machinery, the same UK craft mindset, and the same love for natural, hard wearing materials, and create a dedicated home for custom laser engraved merchandise.
That is how Toasted Merch came to life.
Meet the Crew: Brother, Sister, and the Workshop
Toasted Merch is a family run, two person crew powered by a balance of technical skill and creative vision. We are Ryan and Lauren, a brother and sister team running things directly out of our Norwich workshop.
Ryan: Master Carpentry & Laser Operations
Ryan brings deep woodworking knowledge and technical skill to every build run. With a background rooted in master joinery, custom amp building, and live sound, he handles the material prep, laser calibration, speed settings, and tactile finishing. If a wood grain needs a specific sand or a laser needs precise focal length adjustments for a dense hardwood, Ryan makes sure it is spot on.
Lauren: Creative Direction & Client Comms
Lauren is the artistic eye and direct connection for our clients. As a creative designer, visual thinker, and passionate dog lover, she works closely with bands, shops, and brands to refine artwork layouts, prepare vector files, and ensure your identity translates perfectly onto natural surfaces. When you email us, Lauren is the person making sure your project receives complete individual support.
Our workshop vibe is centered around enjoying the creative process, having fun, and crafting physical items that we are genuinely proud to ship out. When you work with us, you are not dealing with a faceless portal or an automated queue. You are talking directly to the two people who run the machines, prep the timber, and package your box.
From Bands to Brands: Built for Unique Merchandise
While our roots are firmly planted in the music scene with bands, venues, and touring crews, Toasted Merch is built for anyone who wants high quality, custom wooden accessories. We work with an array of clients across the UK:
Touring Bands & Artists: Standout wooden items for the merch desk that give fans a permanent keepsake from the show.
Independent Breweries & Taprooms: Bespoke wooden coasters, tap handles, and custom bar tools that match craft aesthetics.
Companies & Creative Brands: Custom gifts and event accessories that step away from standard corporate plastic clutter.
Solving the Promo Merch Problem
Standard promotional merchandise suffers from a major issue: mass produced plastic items that end up in landfills or rub off after two weeks of pocket friction. Printed ink cracks, cheap keyrings snap, and paper stickers wear away.
We solve this problem by offering fully custom, UK handmade items with a genuine human touch. By using natural wooden materials and deep laser engraving, your brand is permanently etched into a physical product that gets better with age.
Why Laser Engraved Wood?
There is something inherently satisfying about natural timber. Unlike flat surface printing, laser engraving is a tactile, three dimensional process.
Permanent Scorched Detail
Laser engraving uses focused light energy to carve and scorch design work directly into the fibres of the wood. Because the artwork is physically part of the material, it can never peel off, rub away, or fade. Rain, handling, and daily use only add character over time.
Tactile Quality
When a fan or customer picks up a Toasted Merch piece, they feel the recessed lines of your logo, the smooth sanded edges, and the solid weight of the timber. It immediately carries a higher perceived value than standard printed items, allowing creators to command better margins while giving supporters something truly worth holding onto.
Natural Tones & Variations
Every piece of wood has its own distinct grain pattern, density, and tone. When the laser hits the surface, it creates dark natural contrast without relying on chemical inks or solvent paints. No two pieces are completely identical, giving your order an authentic, handcrafted quality.
The Simple Workshop Process
We keep our workflow straightforward so you always know what is happening with your order.
1. File Prep and Optimization: Lauren checks your logo, vector graphics, or line art and formats it specifically for laser burning. Fine lines are checked to ensure they retain clarity when scaled down to fit small accessories like keyrings or bottle openers.
2. Digital Proofing: Before any timber enters the laser bed, we email you a clear digital proof outlining exact dimensions and artwork positioning. One round of amendments is always included, and production only starts once you approve the proof.
3. The Burn Zone: Once approved, your order goes into the workshop queue. Ryan sets up the laser bed, calibrates the optics, and fires up the machine to carve your design into the wood.
4. Sanding and Hand Finishing: Every single piece is hand sanded to clear away smoke residue, smooth out raw edges, and ensure the surface feels silky under your fingers.
5. Secure Packing and Courier Delivery: Your order is packed carefully in sustainable materials and handed over to DHL for fast, tracked delivery directly to your door or venue.
Rooted in Sustainability: Real Eco Commitments
Working with natural timber every day means we have a responsibility to look after the environment. We aim to be as eco friendly as possible across every part of our workshop operations.
Just One Tree Partnership
We are proud partners of the Just One Tree forest restoration scheme. For every single order placed on toastedmerch.co.uk, we donate to plant trees in areas affected by deforestation. By ordering your merchandise through us, you are actively helping to restore natural ecosystems and rebuild global forests.
Environmental Air Filtering
Laser cutting and engraving produces natural smoke and wood particles. We use high grade environmental extraction and filtration systems in our workshop to clean the air before it leaves the building, ensuring our production process is clean for both our local Norwich environment and our workshop space.
Recycled Packaging & Natural Timber
We avoid unnecessary single use plastics in our packing workflow. Your orders are boxed and wrapped using recycled, recyclable paper and card packaging. The wood and bamboo we use for our accessories are chosen for their durability, fast regeneration, and minimal environmental footprint.
Honest Pricing & Free UK Shipping
We believe in keeping business transparent and simple. There are no unexpected fees or surprise calculations when you reach the checkout counter.
Free Shipping on All UK Orders: Standard courier delivery via DHL is included on every UK order, no matter the size of the box.
Low Minimum Order Quantities: You do not need to order thousands of units to get custom work made. Our accessible minimum order numbers let you test out new designs without tying up your budget.
Included Proofing: Artwork checks and digital proofing come standard with every job.
Bespoke Quotes for Large Runs: Need large runs for a festival, national tour, or multi site brand rollout? Drop us a line and we will provide a custom quote tailored to your exact timeline and numbers.
That Smug, Stoked Feeling
Our goal for Toasted Merch is straightforward: we want you to be genuinely stoked when your package arrives from Norwich.
When you open your box of finished merchandise, we want you to get that proud, slightly smug feeling of knowing you have secured a rad, bespoke product for your supporters. Knowing that your merch was made by hand by a family run UK team, crafted with proper timber skills, and produced in a way that gives back to the planet.
Whether you are prepping for a full UK tour, stocking up your shop counter, or launching a new brand, we are here to help you make merchandise people actually want to keep.
Explore our product range, send us your artwork, and let us toast something brilliant for you.
Noisy Hammer - Custom Guitar Amps and Cabinets
Check out our brother company Noisy Hammer for all your guitar amp and cab needs.